Temporarily on hold as we refocus. Feel free to browse the archives for any day that interests you.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Today is Get Out of the Doghouse Day -- but what about tomorrow?

Monday, July 15 is Get Out of the Doghouse Day. But does this mean that one who is in the doghouse today should be given a break or a pass by the one who put him there? Or is this just a day for someone who is chronically in the doghouse to refocus his efforts on getting out?

Today is also St. Swithun's Day in Britain. Legend has it that the weather on St. Swithun's Day will set the pattern for the next 40: If it rains on St. Swithun's Day, get ready for weeks of wet weather. If the weather is dry and fair, the next 40 days will be largely dry and fair as well.

According to Usual Suspect Saints.SPQN.com, Swithun was originally buried outdoors. However, in 871, one of Swithun's successors as Bishop of Winchester decided to move the saint's body into a shrine in the cathedral. "Swithun apparently did not approve as it started raining for 40 days" -- and the legend was born.

Of course, there are a couple of different stories about when his bones were moved. Saints.SPQN.com itself links to Butler's Lives of the Saints which suggests that the move from an outdoor grave to an in-church shrine took place in 964, not 871. According to this source, the move triggered a string of inexplicable, miraculous cures, not good or bad weather.

Although the year is in dispute, Swithun's bones were moved on July 15, which is why his feast day is celebrated then in Britain. In the rest of the world, however, his feast is July 2, the date of this death.

In addition to being a bishop, Swithun was confessor to King Egbert of the Wessex, and tutor and spiritual adviser to his son, King Ethelwulf.

As for tomorrow, it was on July 16, 1941 that Joltin' JoeDiMaggio extended his hitting streak to 56 straight games, setting a major league record that still has not been broken.

The world's first parking meter was installed on July 16, 1935 in Oklahoma City.

Tuesday is also Corn Fritters Day, for reasons best known to those in the corn fritter industry. It will also be Talk to a Telemarketer Day. But... why?